Death by Donation

by Sarah Hualde

  Lydia curled into herself and again wished her blood daughter, Joan and her heart daughter, Ivy could meet face-to-face. She imagined the pleasure of seeing them both at the dining room table and listening to them banter over board games and books. She yearned for her family to gather around her.

  Chapter 39

  The day passed with still no word from Gus. Lydia ordered orange chicken and crab wontons from Noodle or No. She pulled into her driveway and noticed a shadow standing in the doorway. For a moment, she planned a mode of attack. Then she recognized the face.

  “Well, hello Grant,” Lydia said. Grant took the bags of food from Lydia’s grasp. “I assume you’re here to see Ivy?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. If that’s okay with you?” A slight whistling sound came from his nose as he spoke.

  “That’s fine. I just picked up some Chinese food. Would you like to stay for dinner? I bought way more than two girls can eat.”

  Grant shook his head. “That sounds nice, but Auntie Ines needs me back home.”

  “It’s good of you to take care of her. I think you’ve been a wonderful support for her.”

  Grant grimaced. “I wish I could’ve done more.”

  “Don’t we all.”

  Lydia pushed open her front door. She chimed, “Ivy, you have a guest.” Ivy’s answer was imperceptible. ”I’ll just be in the kitchen if you need anything. Make yourself at home.” Lydia retrieved her dinner bags and retreated.

  Ivy came down the hall. She had spit up trailing down her shirt. Scout happily chattered in her arms. “I tried giving Scout squash. She was less than impressed.” Ivy walked halfway into the great room before spotting Grant standing near the entryway.

  “Hi, Ivy.” His voice was weak and shaky. Ivy blinked and stared at Lydia.

  Lydia recognized the look. The teen was wishing Lydia had given her more time to clean up. But there wasn't anything she could do about it now. “I can take Scout if you two want to talk,” she offered.

  “No. We’re good,” Ivy said. She wanted Grant to see her as she was. She was a messy teenager with a baby. She wasn’t a fun time or a seasonal fling. She was a mother and she desperately loved her daughter. She was not about to apologize for her past mistakes. And she wasn't going to hide from them either.

  “Okay,” Lydia busied herself dumping fresh coffee down the sink and refilling the carafe. It was a waste but it offered her something to do besides scamper upstairs and barricade herself in her room.

  “Hello, Grant. What can we do for you?” Ivy walked toward the couch and was about to sit when Grant interjected.

  “Can we talk outside?”

  “It’s a bit chilly,” Ivy motioned to Scout. Grant glanced around the room. He yanked a throw blanket from the back of a chair and wrapped it around both Ivy and Scout.

  “Better?”

  “Okay.”

  Grant led the girls to the front stoop. Ivy was ready for the fallout. He hadn’t been his charming self since he’d discovered Scout was her baby and not Lydia’s. She felt a lecture and a pity party coming on. She braced her shoulders and her heart for it.

  “I’m leaving,” Grant began.

  “I thought as much.”

  “Yes, well. Auntie Ines needs to go on a getaway. Next week, she and my mother will be taking a trip using Ines’ honeymoon itinerary. They plan to scatter Bill’s ashes along the way.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “I think it will be good for Auntie. And I know my mom can use the break.”

  “Do you really have six siblings?”

  “Yes. And that’s why I need to leave. Originally, I was staying to housesit. But now, with my mom going, I’ll need to help homeschool my brothers and sisters. I’ll be gone for two to three months. Until we know what Auntie Ines is going to do.”

  Ivy shifted Scout’s weight on her hip and tucked the baby’s arms into the blanket. “That’s really nice of you to give up your gap year for your family.”

  Grant looked away. He tapped the toe of his shoe against the concrete and then cleared his throat. “Thanks. But what I’m trying to get around to is this. And believe me; I know it’s going to sound crazy. Sometimes the best things in life are a little crazy, by the world’s standards. Ivy?”

  “Yup?”

  “What’s your last name?” Grant giggled low and bashfully. He locked eyes with hers.

  “Hooper.”

  “Well, I’ll write to you, Miss Ivy Hooper.”

  “Email me, you mean?”

  “No. Write to you. Like letters. Something you can hold and keep if you wanted. And I’ll expect you to write me back.”

  “Okay. I will. But...” She was more than a little confused. Where was the judgment and disdain she thought was coming? Where were the name-calling growls and shrewd accusations of sin?

  “You see.” Grant continued. “I want us to really get to know each other. I hate that I have to leave so soon after finding you.”

  “Finding me?”

  “Yes.” Again, Grant cleared an emotional frog from his throat and gazed into her eyes. “You see, Miss Ivy Hooper, I’ve been praying for you for a long time. And I plan to marry you. Not now. Maybe not for a few years. But I know it’s going to happen.

  “I’d like to take this separation as a trial period. For you, I mean. I already know how I feel about this. So ask me anything. Don’t hold back and I’ll answer. I’ll be praying for you, Ivy.”

  Ivy couldn’t stop the warmth flowing into her cheeks. Was Grant Justice about to kiss her? He leaned closer and planted a sweet peck on top of Scout’s downy head. “And, I’ll pray for you too, Scout. Get your questions ready. You’ll hear from me, very soon,” Grant said. Gently, he ushered the Hooper girls back inside Lydia’s house. He shut the door and was gone.

  Ivy wasn’t sure what had just happened. Had she just received a wedding proposal at 17? No, Grant hadn’t actually proposed. He just announced his intentions. But even so, Ivy must be crazy. She’d let Grant walk away without saying a single significant word. Not even goodbye. Ivy stood there stupidly as Grant had talked. What would Ivy do if she got a second chance?

  Scout pawed at her face. “Mamamamamama.” Her sweet small voice stopped all Ivy’s runaway emotions. She turned toward the kitchen. Lydia was making coffee, again. Ivy could hear the kettle steaming. If Ivy could hear Lydia so clearly what had Lydia heard?

  Not two steps away from the door and a rapping drew Ivy back. Her free hand tugging hastily on the doorknob, Ivy expected to see hazel eyes looking back into hers.

  “Grant,” she said as the door opened widely.

  “Who’s Grant?” The girl standing in the entrance was easily recognizable. “I bet there’s a great story there.” Ivy smiled, dumbfounded, at the friend she knew but had never met.

  In the kitchen, the filled coffee carafe slid from Lydia’s hands and shattered on the floor. Lydia skidded into view. Her eyes ran with tears of joy.

  “Hey Mama, I’m home.”

  “Joanie!”

  ✽✽✽

  NOW THAT YOU’VE MET the mamas of Honey Pot, dive into their other misadventures. Solve each crime hand in hand with your new best friends. Lydia, Kat, Flora, and Ivy search for clues and get into trouble over and over again.

  You won’t want to skip even one case.

  #1 Missing on Main Street

  #2 Lethal in Lavender

  #3 Farmers Market Fatality

  #4 Death by Donation

  #5 Killer Con Fuego (releasing in 2020)

  DON’T MISS A SINGLE clue. Sign up for Sarah’s mailing list. Go to https://latenightcoffeemoms.com/writers-life/sarahs-cozy-reader-list/

  ✽✽✽

  Help other mystery lovers find this clean and creative series by leaving a book review wherever you purchased this book.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  THANK YOU’S CAN NEVER COMPARE TO THE GRATITUDE I FEEL FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT GOES INTO THE WRITING OF ONE OF MY NOVELS.

 
My family deserves a huge slice of the recognition. They’ve fed me, literally and metaphorically through the entire process. E & Z are my first readers and they are ultra-supportive. They also let me know when it’s time to take a break. I do not have words large enough to tell them how much I love and appreciate them. Steve-o, your book is still on the way. I promise. In the meantime, know that I love you and am so thankful God gave me the privilege to be your wife.

  To my Beta Readers, the time and effort you put into helping me perfect my work is so valuable to me. You do so much for so little. Thank you for joining me in the journey. Patti Elliot- Your help makes me look so much better than I am. You’re wisdom grows me into a better writer every single time. Thank you so very much. Valerie- that you would carve out time and energy to have my back is such an encouragement. Thank You. Thank You.

  Mom & Jess thanks for letting me talk things out to you over and over and over again. My round table mamas thank you for your encouragement and interest. You make me feel at home and heard. I’m so thankful for you.

  Street Team Mamas: You keep this party going. Thanks for keeping your enthusiasm up and cheering on this writer mom! YOU ROCK!

  As always God, the glory is yours. If this book encourages or comforts a single person it is all because of You. Thank you for loving me.

  Did you love Death by Donation? Then you should read Missing on Main Street by Sarah Hualde!

  It all started with one missing teen.

  Lydia Everett is the only person who even notices Ivy's absence. She decides to put her worries to rest by taking on the search for her missing student.

  Lydia fears for Ivy's life when she discovers she has a stepfather who denies he has a stepdaughter and an ex-boyfriend with sinister intentions. She recruits her friends, in spite of their hectic holiday schedules, to help her find Ivy before it's too late.

  Book #1 in The Honey Pot Mystery series stars Lydia, Kat, and Flora searching for clues and getting into trouble. You'll love this small town cozy mystery series starring homeschooling moms and written by a homeschooling mom. Get ready to stay up late.

  *** Previously Published As Another Cliche Christmas***

  About the Author

  Sarah lives in California, in a home that brings her happiness and hay fever. She has a husband who cooks, a son who stop animates, a daughter who loves animals, a dog that follows her everywhere, and a turtle who scowls at her condescendingly. She enjoys writing new adventures for her imaginary friends and is thrilled when friends in real life enjoy reading her work. She loves God, loves her family, and loves freshly brewed coffee with a side of pastry. She is currently crocheting a blanket for her buddy's new baby. God only knows if she'll finish it before he graduates.